Robinson to Give Up Assembly Post in Bid to Unseat Rep. Dornan

Five-term Assemblyman Richard Robinson ended the months-long guessing game about his political plans, declaring Sunday that he intends to run for the congressional seat held by U.S. Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove).

The Orange County Democrat, who barely won reelection to his Garden Grove Assembly seat last year, said in an interview that he made the decision to oppose Dornan after holding discussions last week with community leaders, potential contributors and “old-time Democrats in the county.”

The legislator said he will not make a formal announcement until late January, but he said:

“All things being equal, I have decided to run for Congress.”

Robinson, 42, said the $1.1-billion Santa Ana River flood control project is imperiled because of inadequate representation in Washington since Dornan defeated former U.S. Rep. Jerry Patterson last year.

Balanced Budget

The “last straw,” Robinson said, was Dornan’s vote last week against legislation that would have required a balanced federal budget by 1991.

“This county is suffering,” he said. “I feel I am the only one who has a chance to defeat Dornan.”

Orange County Republican leaders welcomed the Robinson challenge, suggesting he chose to run for the higher office to avoid the possibility of an embarrassing reelection defeat by Anaheim real estate broker Richard Longshore, who lost to Robinson by 256 votes last year.

“Sometimes when politicians see imminent defeat, it is more for the sake of image . . . to attempt a higher office,” county Republican Chairman Tom Fuentes said.

Dornan agreed. But the congressman predicted that Robinson will easily win the Democratic primary if challenged. Dornan added that he expects Robinson, who like himself is a proven campaigner and fund-raiser, to be a tough foe.

“That makes it interesting,” Dornan said. “It should be a nice battle between a Marine (Robinson) and an Air Force pilot.”

National Democrats are planning an all-out effort to win back the seat Dornan won last year in a heated battle with Patterson, a Santa Ana Democrat now eyeing a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

They feel that Dornan, an outspoken conservative who called U.S. Rep. Thomas Downey a “draft-dodging wimp” and scuffled with him on the House floor, won last year largely on President Reagan’s popularity.

Democratic Edge

As of a month ago, Democrats had nearly a 20,000 lead among registered voters in the district. About 49.7% of the voters were registered as Democrats; 39.5% were Republicans.

Some Orange County Democrats had been drumming up support for a candidacy by Superior Court Judge David Carter. Robinson said a major Democratic primary battle would most likely work against him and he hopes there will not be one.

“I’ve talked to an awful lot of people who do not feel that Carter could win,” Robinson said.

Dornan agreed that Robinson, who has spent 11 years in the Assembly representing an area partly included in the congressional district, would offer a much stronger challenge.

“There’s no comparison. . . . Carter has zero name ID and would have to carpetbag (move) into the district,” he observed.

Dornan, who moved to Orange County to run against Patterson, survived that issue last year.

Carter could not be reached for comment.

Robinson chairs the Assembly Committee on Public Investments, which hears all bills dealing with the state’s $7.7-billion bond debt and the state’s $35-billion investment portfolio. He was Democratic caucus chairman, acting as political lieutenant to Speaker Willie Brown, but was ousted last year.